OK - I am an official fan of Sally Clarkson! She has such a beautiful way of putting real life into words that touch me down deep...you know, when you read something that just moves you, inspires you to be better, do better! There is something about her honesty and openness that hits me right where it matters. Her post today did it again...moved me that is. A present for Jesus!? Yes, I know about lent, but this idea just hit me differently somehow...what an awesome idea! Yes, worship Christ, give thanks to God for sending his only son to die on the cross for our sins...but to actually giving Him a present, something MORE of myself. Commit to give more of me, more of my actions, more of my time, more of my thoughts, just more. For the first time this year we are going to make a birthday cake for Jesus. Now all I have to do is think of the gift He would like the most from me....what a fun tradition to start with the fam!
Here are some pieces of Sally's post from her blog I Take Joy
Let there be love
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sin." I Peter 4:8
As I get older, I find I am more and more about giving grace and extending love than about my rules and ideals. Perhaps I see my sin nature more clearly and appreciate His love and forgiveness more. I fail and fall below my own standards so often and yet, he still loves me, answers my prayers, meets with me when I seek Him out and now I know that I can't do without Him. When I was younger, I had more stamina to push toward standards and ideals and make goals and try, by my own strength, to accomplish so much. Now, my plate has never been fuller and my responsibilities are greater, but I know that without His divine intervention, my life would be in shambles.
....
As I have thought about what present I want to give Jesus this year for His birthday, I have thought that perhaps He would be pleased with love from my heart. But not just love for Him, but generous, spilling over, lavish love shown to all precious people he has brought into my life. I have resolved to love those who don't especially love me. I want to send special notes of love to those I appreciate. I want to cover any tension in my family this Christmas with love and grace--for the sake of my great appreciate for His unconditional love.
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And remember above all, that He loves you. Nothing can separate you from His love. (Romans 8) Jesus loves you and proved it by His humble, sacrificial love, shown even in washing the very feet of his disciples on the night he was going to be killed--always loving, always encouraging, always giving life. He loves you in the same humble, compassionate, encouraging way.
But beyond that, the last words of his High Priestly prayer shows us God's intention for all of us, "I have made your name (God's name) known and will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me, Oh God, may be in them (his disciples--in us) and I in them." God, the Father, loves you with an everlasting love. We love Him because He first loved us! May His heart be pleased with our gift of love this year as we celebrate his birthday with grace, overwhelming joy and peace.
Then, of course, this whole line of thought reminded me of one of my favorite Ginny Owens songs titled I Am Nothing (most all her songs are a healing balm to the soul, but this one is particularly powerful). As many of you know, I am a Ginny groupy!! Check this song out, the below website will allow you to listen to the song for free, believe me, it is worth a listen!
http://www.imeem.com/people/0GyIC9/music/rVlTYO6i/ginny_owens_i_am_nothing/
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